Multi-capacity water sampler

ABSTRACT

A water sampler device for obtaining samples of ocean water at designated depths consisting of a plurality of tubular members of identical shape and size clamped together to form a receptacle of any desired capacity with a closure or valve for both ends of the receptacle yieldingly maintained away from the upper opening to permit sea water to flow through the receptacle as it is lowered and sinks to the desired depth of water. Upon release of a messenger, the closures are released simultaneously whereby the lower closure passes through the upper opening to become seated on the lower opening while the upper closure seats on the upper opening to be locked in position by a plurality of cams. The weight of the water trapped in the receptacle maintains the lower cap in a sealed position on the lower opening as the sampler is brought to the surface of the ocean.

Unite States Patent [191 Niskin 1 1 MULTl-CAPACITY WATER SAMPLER Shale J. Niskin, 2629 S. Bayshore Dr., Miami, Fla. 33133 [22] Filed: June 4, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 366,771

[76] Inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,489,012 1/1970 Niskin 73/425.4 R

Primary ExaminerS. Clement Swisher Attorney, Agent, or FirmSalvatore G. Militana 7] ABSTRACT t g A water sampler device for obtaining samples of [111 3,815,422 June 11, 1974 ocean water at designated depths consisting of a plurality of tubular members of identical shape and size clamped together to form a receptacle of any desired capacity with a closure or valve for both ends of the receptacle yieldingly maintained away from the upper opening to permit sea water to flow through the receptacle as it is lowered and sinks to the desired depth of water. Upon release of a messenger, the closures are released simultaneously whereby the lower closure passes through the upper opening to become seated on the lower opening while the upper closure seats on the upper opening to be locked in position by a plurality of cams. The weight of the water trapped in the receptacle maintains the lower cap in a sealed position on the lower opening as the sampler is brought to the surface of the ocean.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUH 1 1 m 38 15422 SHEEI 10F 4 MULTI-CAPACITY WATER SAMPLER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This invention is an improvement over applicants US. Pat. No. 3,242,740 issued on Mar. 29, 1966 for Water Sampler System and US. Pat. No. 3,489,012 issued on Jan. 13, 1970, for Water Sampler Device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is directly related to apparatus for obtaining samples of sea water at designated depths in the ocean.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the conventional water sampler devices, the amount of water obtained is determined by the size of the containers and of the apparatus supporting the containers. In order to obtain any variation in quantity of sea water, .a separate and distinct apparatus has to be used since each apparatus for obtaining samples of sea water is designed to hold containers of a certain size. As for example in my apparatus shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,242,740, I would require a larger device 13 for supporting the inflatable container 14 in order to obtain a larger quantity of sea water. Likewise, since the sampler in my US. Pat. No. 3,489,012 is designed for use with a plurality of receptacles-16,. a larger device 10 would be required if the sizes of the receptacles 16 were made longer and larger to increase their capacity.

This is also the fact with the other conventional samplers in use. None of them are able to be so versatile that any desired quantity of seawater be obtained by merely adding more water containing elements such as cylinders to the same apparatus. Consequently, in order to obtain a larger quantity of sea water than that for which the existing sampler is capable of obtaining,

.a number of samples must be obtained until the operator has accumulated the desired quantity of water. Otherwise, a number of separate and distinct samplers have to be available for the different quantities of sea water to be obtained. The present invention avoids the necessity of having many. sizes of water samplers or having to obtain a number of samples to make up the quantity desired by providing a single multi-capacity water sampler to obtain water samples of desired quantity from a predetermined depth in the ocean for each cycle of operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a water sampler apparatus with elements that can be added or removed therefrom in order to obtain a desired quantity of sea water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water sampler apparatus with any desired number of identical hollow cylinders that are readily joined together to form a chamber for trapping a predetermined quantity of sea water.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a water sampler with one or more identical hollow cylinders connected together and on the upper and lower end of which aheader is mounted for receiving a valve which upon the arrival of the sampler at a designated depth in the ocean traps a predetermined quantity of sea water.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a water sampler capable of obtaining varied quantities of sea water wherein the valves sealing the inlet and outlet of the sampler are locked into sealed position to prevent any contamination of the sample of water.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a system of valves for a water sampler which does not impede the flow of water as the sampler is being lowered in a body of water and which seals the sampler most effectively upon the seating of the valves to prevent contamination upon the sampler being brought to the surface of the ocean.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specirication, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational 'view of a water sampling apparatus constructed .in accordance with my invention shown in use for obtaining a sample of sea water.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the water sampler apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of my sampler taken along the-axis thereof with the-closures in a retracted position permitting the flow of sea water through the receptacle.

. FIG. 4 is a similar view with the closures in a released position immediatelylprior to becoming seated.

FIG. 5 is a similar view with the closures shown seated and the sampler sealed to contain the sea water within the chamber of the receptacle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 refers to my sampler consisting of a plurality of hollow cylindrical members 11 of identical construction mounted end to end with each other as explained hereinafter. The number of such cylinders 11 mounted together isdetermined by the quantity of sea water the operator wishes to collect. Each of the cylinders 11 that consists of a cylindrical wall open at each end to form a chamber 12 is provided with a peripheral groove 13 on each edge of the cylinder wall 1 1. Each groove 13 is semi-circular in cross section matching the groove 13 of the adjacent cylinder 11 to form a seat for an O-ring 14 in sealing the juncture between the cylinders 11. Adjacent each end of the cylinders 11 is a slot 15 which extends about the outer surface thereof. A removable coupling or clamp 16 is provided with leg portions 17 that are received by a pair of adjacent slots 15 to lock the adjacent cylinders 11 together. The couplings 16 are conventional in construction consisting of a loop 18 engaged by a pivoted handle 19 mounted at each end of the strap or coupling 16. A similar coupling is shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,476,410.

Positioned at the open end of the upper or first cylinder 11 is a header 20 which similar to the cylinders 11 is provided with a peripheral groove 24 matching the groove 13 of the cylinder 11 to receive the O-ring 14 therein and aside wall slot 15 for receiving the leg portion 17 of a clamp16 that secures the header 20 to the cylinder 1 l. The header 20 is provided with an opening forming an inlet 21 and an upwardly extending peripheral flange 22. Adjacent the inlet 21 is a valve seat 23 for receiving a valve 25.

About the flange 22 there is a pair of symmetrically disposed openings 26 positioned in proximity to the outer edge thereof and a plurality of vertically disposed slots 27 symmetricallyarranged thereon. The openings 26 are utilized for securing the ends of an elastic member or cord 28 whose other ends are secured to an opening 29 formed at the end portion of an outer valve stem 30 extending upwardly of a valve body 31 of the valve ,25. Also attached to the stem 30 at the opening 29 is one end of a cable 38 at whose other end is a loop by an endless elastic band 37 that encircles the flange 22 and yieldingly maintains the cams in their inwardly pivoted position as shown by FIG. 5.-ln this position, the cams 35 engage the rim of the valve body 31 to lock the valve 25 in position over the opening 21 and seal same against leakage of water contained in the chambers 12 of the cylinders -11. i

At the lowermost cylinder 11, the lower and open end of this cylinder is closedoff by a heater 40 provided with a peripheral groove 41 that matches the grooves 13 to receive the O-ringl4. therebetween for sealing the juncture thereof. There is also provided a peripheral slot 15 on its outer side wall to receive the leg portions 17 of the clamp 16 that locks the lowermost cylinder 11 and the header 40 together. When water is trapped in the containers 11, the header opening 42 is sealed by a valve 46 which consists of a valve body 70 having an upwardly extending valve stem 50.

On the free end of the valve stem 50'there is mounted a guide plate 49 49 perforated with openings 68 thereon. in the guide plate 49 there is a cavity 48 shaped to receive the valve stem 32 and conical end portion 33.0f the inlet valve closure 25 when the valves 25 and 46 are in a retracted position. The valve body 70 is provided with a depending truncated conical portion 51 whose sloping side walls assist in the seating of the valve 46 on the valve seat 43 formed on the header 40 as the valve 46 sinks downwardly in the sampler 10. The valve body 70 is also provided with a circular groove 45 that has a semi-circular cross section that seats on and receives an O-ring 47 mounted in a similarly disposedgroove 44 on the valve seat 43 to prevent any leakage of water therethrough when the valve 46 has become seated.

Each of the cylinders 11 has a handle 70 on one side and a release mechanism -B- attached thereto on the other side. The release device -B- consists of bracket members 53, 54 and 55 secured to the cylinder 11 in 5 spaced vertical relation to each and having aligned bores 56 for slidable movement of a rod 57 therein. (See FIG. 4.). The rod 57 is provided with an enlarged head portion 58 at one end and a collar 59 fastened thereto and positioned between the bracket members 54 and 55. The collar 59 has an upwardly extending pin 60 mounted thereon that extends through vertically aligned openings 61 in the bracket member 54. A slotted portion 62 in the bracket member 54 separates the I aligned openings 61. A coil spring 63 extends between the bracket member 55 and the collar 59 to yieldingly urge the rod 57 and head 58 in an upward position with the collar 59 engaging the bracket member 54 and the pin 61 extending across the slotted portion 62 as shown by FIG. 3.

end of a loweringcable 64 as at the posts 65 while slidably mounted on the cable 64 is a weighted messenger 66. When the messenger 66 is permitted to slide downwardly along the cable 64, it will strike the head 58 of the rod 59 and cause the rod 57 to slide downwardly on the bracket members 53, 54 and55. Simultaneously therewith the pin 60 slides downwardly to a position below the slotted portion 62. l

1n the normal use of my .water sampler apparatus 10, the various parts thereof are arranged as best shown by FIG. '3 with as many cylinders 11 being attached'together as is required in order to obtain the desired quantity of sea water in a single operation. The valve 25 is mounted on the valve 46, the valve stem 32 being received in the opening 48 and the combined valves 25 and 46 positioned upon the flange 22. The combined valves 25 and 46 are maintained in that position by the taut cable 38 whose loop 39 is engaged and retained by the pin 60. w

Both lower and upper openings 42 and 21 are in open position to permit sea waterto flow therethrough as the sampler 10 is supported by the cable 64 secured to a boom on a ship as illustrated by FIG. 1 with a weight 67 depending from the sampler 10 to maintain the device 10 in an upright manner. When'the sampler 10 has arrivedat the predetermined depth at which the water sample is desired, the messenger 66 is released and permitted to slide down the cable 64. Upon reaching the sampler 10 the messenger 66 strikes the head 58 to cause the rod 57 to slide downwardly against the spring pressure 63. Consequently the pin 60 slides downwardly below the position of the slotted portion 62 to release the loop 39 of the cable 38. The tensioned elastic members 28 now cause the combined valves 25 and 46 to slide off the flange 22 toward the opening 21. As soon as the valve 46 is free of the flange 22, it separates from the valve 25 and falls freely through the opening 21 and downwardly through the cylinders 11 with the 60 11, as shown by FIG. 4. The valve 46 finally becomes To the bracket members 53 there is attached the free I guide plate-49 centering the valve 46 in the cylinders entering the sampler 10. The weight of the sea water contained in the sampler l0 maintains the valve 46 in a seated and sealed position over the outlet 42 to prevent any loss of the water contained in the sampler 10. The sampler is now brought up to the surface aboard the ship and the sea water removed from the sampler 10 into appropriate containers. The sampler 10 can then be reset for obtaining further samples of sea water at other desired depths. It is to be noted that as my sampler 10 is being lowered in the water, the flow of water through the openings 42 and 21 purges the inner surfaces of the cylinders 11 of any foreign matter, etc. so that when the sampler arrives at the designated depth in the ocean only the water at that depth will be trapped in the cylinders 11.

ln addition, my sampler 10 may be utilized in the same manner as shown and described in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,242,740 wherein a series of units 10 may be mounted on the cable 64 and triggered to their closed position to simultaneously obtain samples of sea water at different depths.

Having disclosed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent Is:

1. *A multi-capacity water sampler comprising a substantially hollow cylindrical member forming a chamber, a header mounted on each end of said cylindrical member, said first and second headers each having an opening permitting the flow of water therethrough, a

first and second closure member, means releasably mounting said closure members on said first header adjacent said opening, further means operatively connected to said cylindrical member for actuating said releasing means whereby said second closure member passes through said opening of said first header and becomes seated on the opening of said second closure member while said first closure member becomes seated on said opening of said first header to seal said chamber and locking means securing said first closure member on said opening of said first header to seal said chamber.

2. The structure as recited by claim 1 taken in combination with a further hollow cylindrical member substantially identical with said first named cylindrical member, means securing said cylindrical members in axial alignment forming an enlarged chamber with said headers mounted at the free ends of said cylindrical members.

3. The structure as recited by claim 1 taken in combination with a valve seat mounted on said first header about said opening, said first closure member comprising a body portion adapted to be seated on said valve seat, a valve stem depending from said body portion and said second closure member comprising a second body portion substantially smaller in diameter than said opening in said first header, a stem mounted on said second body portion, and a perforated guide plate mounted on the free end of said stem said guide plate having a bore for receiving said valve stem of said first closure member whereby said first and second closure members are mounted one upon the other when said chamber is in an open position.

4. The structure as recited by claim 3 taken in combination with a second stem extending upwardly of said first closure member, a plurality of resilient members substantially disposed about said first header connecting said header and said second stem yieldingly urging said second closure to become seated on said opening of said first header and said releasable means comprising cable means connected at one end to said operating means and the other to said second stem.

5. The structure as recited by claim 4 wherein said releasable means comprises a bracket mounted on said first cylindrical member, a rod slidably mounted on said bracket, spring means yieldinglyurging said rod in one direction, a pin mounted on said rod, said one end of said cable means having a loop engaged by said pin whereby upon the movement of said rod in the other direction said pin becomes disengaged from said loop to release said first and second closure members.

6. The structure as recited by claim 5 wherein said actuating means comprises a lowering cable connected to said bracket, a weighted messenger slidably mounted on said bracket in the path of said slidable rod whereby upon impact said messenger causes the sliding movement of said rod against said spring means to release said' closure members.

7. Closure members for a hollow cylindrical housing having an inlet and a smaller outlet opening and a valve seat at each end comprising a first valve body adapted to be seated on said valve seat of said inlet opening, a first stem portion extending upwardly of said first valve body and a second stem portion extending downward of said first valve body, a second valve body adapted to be seated on said valve seat of said smaller outlet opening, a third stem portion extending upwardly of said second valve body, a guide plate mounted on said third stem portion, said guide plate having a plurality of openings extending therethrough and a cavity, said cavity receiving said second stem portion of said first valve body whereby said first and second valve bodies are mounted on each other when in a non-closed position.

closed, position. v 

1. A multi-capacity water sampler comprising a substantially hollow cylindrical member forming a chamber, a header mounted on each end of said cylindrical member, said first and second headers each having an opening permitting the flow of water therethrough, a first and second closure member, means releasably mounting said cLosure members on said first header adjacent said opening, further means operatively connected to said cylindrical member for actuating said releasing means whereby said second closure member passes through said opening of said first header and becomes seated on the opening of said second closure member while said first closure member becomes seated on said opening of said first header to seal said chamber and locking means securing said first closure member on said opening of said first header to seal said chamber.
 2. The structure as recited by claim 1 taken in combination with a further hollow cylindrical member substantially identical with said first named cylindrical member, means securing said cylindrical members in axial alignment forming an enlarged chamber with said headers mounted at the free ends of said cylindrical members.
 3. The structure as recited by claim 1 taken in combination with a valve seat mounted on said first header about said opening, said first closure member comprising a body portion adapted to be seated on said valve seat, a valve stem depending from said body portion and said second closure member comprising a second body portion substantially smaller in diameter than said opening in said first header, a stem mounted on said second body portion, and a perforated guide plate mounted on the free end of said stem said guide plate having a bore for receiving said valve stem of said first closure member whereby said first and second closure members are mounted one upon the other when said chamber is in an open position.
 4. The structure as recited by claim 3 taken in combination with a second stem extending upwardly of said first closure member, a plurality of resilient members substantially disposed about said first header connecting said header and said second stem yieldingly urging said second closure to become seated on said opening of said first header and said releasable means comprising cable means connected at one end to said operating means and the other to said second stem.
 5. The structure as recited by claim 4 wherein said releasable means comprises a bracket mounted on said first cylindrical member, a rod slidably mounted on said bracket, spring means yieldingly urging said rod in one direction, a pin mounted on said rod, said one end of said cable means having a loop engaged by said pin whereby upon the movement of said rod in the other direction said pin becomes disengaged from said loop to release said first and second closure members.
 6. The structure as recited by claim 5 wherein said actuating means comprises a lowering cable connected to said bracket, a weighted messenger slidably mounted on said bracket in the path of said slidable rod whereby upon impact said messenger causes the sliding movement of said rod against said spring means to release said closure members.
 7. Closure members for a hollow cylindrical housing having an inlet and a smaller outlet opening and a valve seat at each end comprising a first valve body adapted to be seated on said valve seat of said inlet opening, a first stem portion extending upwardly of said first valve body and a second stem portion extending downward of said first valve body, a second valve body adapted to be seated on said valve seat of said smaller outlet opening, a third stem portion extending upwardly of said second valve body, a guide plate mounted on said third stem portion, said guide plate having a plurality of openings extending therethrough and a cavity, said cavity receiving said second stem portion of said first valve body whereby said first and second valve bodies are mounted on each other when in a non-closed position.
 8. The structure as recited by claim 7 taken in combination with resilient means connected on the free end of said first stem portion yieldingly urging said closures to their closed position and cable means connected to said free end of said first stem portion releasably restraining the movement of said closure members to said closed Position. 